Matchday | Chicago Fire FC Celebrates Oktoberfest against the Philadelphia Union

Match Information

Chicago Fire FC (14-8-6, 48 points) vs. Philadelphia Union (12-10-6, 42 points)
Oktoberfest, pres. by Illinois Soybean Association
Beer Stein Giveaway for First 5,000 Fans

Wednesday, October 14, 2026
7:30 p.m. CT
Soldier Field – Chicago

How to Watch: Apple TV
English: Jonathan Yardley & Calen Carr
Spanish: Bruno Vain

How to Listen: WLS 890 AM // TUDN Chicago 106.7-HD2

English: Max Anderson & Joe Chatz
Spanish: Omar Ramos & Teresa Limón

Match Preview

Chicago Fire FC will close out a three-game homestand at Soldier Field against the Philadelphia Union on Wednesday, Oct. 14.

Following a home victory against Vancouver Whitecaps FC on Oct. 6, the Fire returned to Eastern Conference play against New York City FC on Saturday afternoon. A 19th-minute visiting strike compounded by two yellow cards left the Fire one goal and one man down at halftime. But Maren Haile-Selassie brought Chicago back to life 10 minutes into the second half, assisting Anton Salétros with his first goal of the year. The Swiss winger then pounced on a loose pass to complete the turnaround in the 87th minute, finishing the week with two goals, two assists, two victories and a contract extension through the 2028-29 season.

After a historically poor start to 2026 for last year's Supporters’ Shield winners, Philadelphia has not lost in 13 matches since the league’s restart following FIFA World Cup 2026. The Union last defeated Real Salt Lake 2-1 behind two assists by 17-year-old midfielder Cavan Sullivan, who has powered much of the streak with a goal or assist in each of the last nine matches. He and his hometown side now have their sights set on the Fire, who won their last matchup on March 21 at Subaru Park.

All-Time MLS Regular Season Record vs. PHI: (12-16-9)

Last Match vs. PHI: June 25, 2025 (0-1 L) – Soldier Field – Chicago (Match Recap)
Last Match at PHI: March 21, 2026 (2-1 W) – Subaru Park – Chester, Pa. (Match Recap)

Hyundai Keys to the Match:

• 99 Luftballons: Jonathan Dean has made a name for himself among Fire faithful since joining in 2023. The hardworking fullback has 99 regular season appearances with Chicago – his next will make him the 25th player in Club history to play 100 games with the Fire.

• Trans Europa Express: Swiss winger Maren Haile-Selassie scored his 10th goal of the season and assisted Swedish midfielder Anton Salétros on Saturday. Polish striker Robert Lewandowski got his ninth goal contribution in just 10 starts. The Fire’s European contingent is operating on all cylinders with Philadelphia ahead.

• Wind of Change: The Fire returned to the playoffs in 2025 for the first time in eight years. One year later, the Men in Red are one win away from back-to-back postseason appearances for the first time since 2009. Expectations are different this time around, but the goal remains the same: to bring a title to Chicago.

Match Notes

• A victory will see the Fire match last season’s total of 15 victories. It will also mark the first time since 2001 that Chicago sees back-to-back 15-win seasons, as well as back-to-back 50-point campaigns. Anton Salétros’ equalizer against New York City also assured the Fire a 50-goal campaign, giving his side back-to-back 50-goal seasons for the first time since 2001, the last of a four-year streak.

• Director of Football and Head Coach Gregg Berhalter earned his 96th regular season victory on Saturday, one win shy of former Orlando City SC and Minnesota United FC head coach Adrian Heath as 16th all-time in Major League Soccer. With a win on Wednesday, Berhalter would also become the first coach since Bob Bradley in 2000 to win 10 matches at Soldier Field in a single season.

• Jonathan Dean’s next appearance will be his 100th for Chicago Fire FC in MLS regular season play. The defender will become the 25th player in Fire history to break the century mark, and the first since Maren Haile-Selassie accomplished the feat on May 9. Dean will become the fourth player on the current squad to appear in 100 matches, joining Haile-Selassie, Mauricio Pineda and Chris Brady.

• Maren Haile-Selassie and Robin Lod are tied for most goals against the Union among current Fire players with two, with the former also having two assists in six meetings between the Eastern Conference sides. Both Jonathan Bamba and Jack Ellliott also tallied in the 2025 postseson meeting last October.

• Defender Sam Rogers (Lower Body), and midfielders André Franco (Lower Body), Robin Lod (Lower Body), Anzor Mekvabishvili (Lower Body) and Dje D'Avilla (Suspension) are not available for selection against Philadelphia on Wednesday.

Starting XI

Chicago Fire FC Director of Football and Head Coach Gregg Berhalter has named the following Starting XI in search of a win that would clinch a postseason berth for the second year in a row:

• Three changes were made to the Starting XI that rallied for a 2-1 shorthanded victory against New York City FC on Saturday afternoon at the lakefront.

• Johan Gómez will start his fourth match since joining the Fire in September. The versatile attacker will look for his second goal this season from the right wing after getting his first MLS goal in game-winning fashion against Charlotte on Sept. 26 in North Carolina.

• Homegrown midfielder Mauricio Pineda will spell Dje D'Avilla (Suspended) in the center of the park. He will line up alongside Anton Salétros, who kickstarted the comeback against New York City on Saturday with his first goal in league play for the Fire.

• Noah Allen returns to the Starting XI following international duty with the Greece U-21 Men's National Team. The left back played 90 minutes in every match of the international window, scoring his first goal with his national team during UEFA U-21 European Championship Qualifiers.

• Lining up across from Allen in the defense is Jonathan Dean, who will make his 100th regular season appearance for Chicago. Dean is the 25th player in Fire history to reach the century mark with the team, with most of his appearances coming at the right back position he will occupy tonight.

• Joining Dean and Allen in the backline are captain Jack Elliott and Mbekezeli Mbokazi, who have allowed just eight shots on goal since Mbokazi's return from the Injured List on Sept. 26.

• Chris Brady completes the defensive half of the pitch for Chicago with his 27th start of the season. The Homegrown goalkeeper equaled last season's total of 12 wins on Saturday against New York City and now seeks a career-high 13th win in 2026.

• Back to the left wing goes Jonathan Bamba, who looks for a team-leading third game-winning goal of the season tonight. He will play alongside a red-hot Maren Haile-Selassie on the left side of the attack, who seeks a third consecutive match with a goal and an assist in the current homestand.

• Forward Robert Lewandowski is back in the Starting XI for a second straight match. The Polish icon has tallied 10 goal contributions this season, nine of them coming in starts.
• Available off the bench are goalkeepers Jeff Gal and Josh Cohen; defenders Leonardo Barroso, Andrew Gutman and Andreas Hanche-Olsen; midfielders David Poreba and Sergio Oregel Jr.; and wingers Philip Zinckernagel and Puso Dithejane.

• Beside D'Avilla, defender Sam Rogers (Lower Body), and midfielders André Franco (Lower Body), Robin Lod (Lower Body) and Anzor Mekvabishvili (Lower Body) are not available for selection against Philadelphia.

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